Month: September 2012

Just capital! City to invest £1.4m in cycling

ON THE ROAD: yesterday’s Pedal for Scotland event

Initiatives to make Edinburgh a better city for ‘active travel’ will be considered by councillors this week, with cycling set to recieve a considerable chunk of the council’s transport budget.  Inspired by Olympic success, there’s been a sharp rise in bike ownership over the last month so the measures are likely to prove popular with the Edinburgh public.

An extra dedicated cycling officer will also be appointed to take forward the design and construction of schemes that are already in the pipeline.

A further £460,000 will be spent on routine maintenance of cycle routes and on marketing and  promotion. This year the Council has also attracted £425,000 of matching funding for cycle projects from the Scottish Government via Sustrans.

Councillor Jim Orr, vice-convener of the Transport committee, said: “This programme is evidence of the capital coalition’s commitment to making it easier, safer and more attractive for people to cycle and walk in Edinburgh. It represents a record investment by the Council with 5% of our total transport budget going on cycling, and we believe this is more than any other Scottish authority in both total and per head spend. Encouraging active travel makes sense for environmental, health and traffic reasons, but Edinburgh is also a fantastic city to explore on foot or two wheels. Our investment will make the most of that.”

There will be further spending on promoting walking, with a new post focussed on improving design for pedestrians and  upgrading popular routes.

The measures form part of the Council’s Active Travel action plan, which was drawn up in 2010 with NHS Lothian, walking charity Living Streets, Sustrans and the city’s leading cycling group Spokes, among others. The Council’s progress will be measured under Scottish and European schemes to promote cycling, as well as annual reports to the Transport committee.

Edinburgh’s own Sir Chris Hoy’s herculean Olympic exploits have doubtless encouraged many more citizens to get on their bikes. Yesterday council leader Andrew Burns was joined by Inverleith councillor Nigel Bagshaw and Forth’s Cammy Day among others on the freshnlo Pedal for Scotland Glasgow to Edinburgh charity cycle – his tenth in a row! It seems the capital’s gone cycle crazy!

8500 cyclists registered for yesterday’s Pedal for Scotland event which was started by cycling star Mark beaumont and Scottish Transport minister Keith Brown

Library opening hours will change next month

Blackhall Library

Your library’s opening hours are changing! From 1 October 22 city council libraries will open 10am – 5pm on Saturdays, with major changes to Thursday opening citywide. Local library opening times will be:

Blackhall: Monday – Wednesday 10am – 8pm, Thursday & Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm.

Granton: Monday & Wednesday 1 – 8pm. Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10am – 5pm. Saturday 10am – 5pm

Leith: Monday – Wednesday 10am – 8pm. Thursday & Friday 10am – 5pm. Saturday 10am – 5pm

Muirhouse: Monday – Wednesday 10am – 8pm. Thursday & Friday 10am – 5pm. Saturday 10am – 5pm. Sunday 1 – 5pm

Stockbridge: Monday & Wednesday 1 – 8pm. Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10am – 5pm. Saturday 10am – 5pm.

For further information call into your local library, telephone 0131 200 2000 or visit the City Council website at

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/libraryopeninghours

Do these changes affect you? How important are local libraries to you? Let us know!

Muirhouse Library

The search is on for Scotland's First Aid champions

Do you know an inspiring First Aid champion who deserves the recognition of a Scottish First Aid Award? They could be a First Aid volunteer, a child, or an adult who has displayed remarkable courage. Or perhaps you know a quick thinking neighbour or colleague who has saved someone’s life with their First Aid skills? We want to hear about them!

St Andrew’s First Aid is calling for nominations for the inaugural Scottish First Aid Awards.  Nominations are open until Friday 28 September 2012 and a panel of judges will announce the shortlist in October 2012.  Successful entries will be invited to a prestigious black tie awards event to be held on Thursday 29 November 2012, at the City Chambers, Glasgow.

“The Scottish First Aid Awards have been created to champion First Aid in Scotland and recognise those individuals and businesses that are leading the way in its provision,” said Stuart Callison, CEO at St Andrew’s First Aid. “We would like to encourage everyone to get involved. The awards are open to all, regardless of whether you have received First Aid training with St Andrew’s First Aid or another provider and we are welcoming nominations from individuals, businesses, public sector organisations, shops, schools and many more.”

Entry to any of the awards categories is free and nominations can be made online at www.firstaid.org.uk/awards.

CATEGORY 1: The Workplace First Aid Award Do you know someone in your workplace that deserves recognition for their First Aid Skills?  This category has been created to recognise such individuals or organisations that are championing First Aid training to their staff, the public and their customers.

  • Public/Not for Profit Sector Award
  • Private Sector Award

CATEGORY 2: First Aid Volunteer Awards Volunteers are the lifeblood of a non-profit organisation.  The Volunteer Awards category has been created to celebrate courageous volunteers who have demonstrated an excellent use of their First Aid skills in Scotland.

  • Young First Aid Volunteer of the Year (up to 15 years of age)
  • Youth First Aid Volunteer of the Year (16-24 years)
  • First Aid Volunteer of the Year (25 years and over)

CATEGORY 3: The Herald Community First Aid Award This category has been created to recognise courageous individuals, valiant First Aid advocates and those who have excelled in using their First Aid skills in the Community.  We are seeking nominations from anyone, anywhere in recognition of a particularly inspirational First Aid achievement.

  • Young First Aid Champion (up to and including 15 years of age)
  • Community First Aid Champion (16 years and over)

For further information please contact Helen Forrest or Stephanie Stewart on 0141 332 4031

Helen.forrest@firstaid.org.uk or Stephanie.stewart@firstaid.org.uk

St Andrew’s First Aid

The search is on for Scotland’s First Aid champions

Do you know an inspiring First Aid champion who deserves the recognition of a Scottish First Aid Award? They could be a First Aid volunteer, a child, or an adult who has displayed remarkable courage. Or perhaps you know a quick thinking neighbour or colleague who has saved someone’s life with their First Aid skills? We want to hear about them!

St Andrew’s First Aid is calling for nominations for the inaugural Scottish First Aid Awards.  Nominations are open until Friday 28 September 2012 and a panel of judges will announce the shortlist in October 2012.  Successful entries will be invited to a prestigious black tie awards event to be held on Thursday 29 November 2012, at the City Chambers, Glasgow.

“The Scottish First Aid Awards have been created to champion First Aid in Scotland and recognise those individuals and businesses that are leading the way in its provision,” said Stuart Callison, CEO at St Andrew’s First Aid. “We would like to encourage everyone to get involved. The awards are open to all, regardless of whether you have received First Aid training with St Andrew’s First Aid or another provider and we are welcoming nominations from individuals, businesses, public sector organisations, shops, schools and many more.”

Entry to any of the awards categories is free and nominations can be made online at www.firstaid.org.uk/awards.

CATEGORY 1: The Workplace First Aid Award Do you know someone in your workplace that deserves recognition for their First Aid Skills?  This category has been created to recognise such individuals or organisations that are championing First Aid training to their staff, the public and their customers.

  • Public/Not for Profit Sector Award
  • Private Sector Award

CATEGORY 2: First Aid Volunteer Awards Volunteers are the lifeblood of a non-profit organisation.  The Volunteer Awards category has been created to celebrate courageous volunteers who have demonstrated an excellent use of their First Aid skills in Scotland.

  • Young First Aid Volunteer of the Year (up to 15 years of age)
  • Youth First Aid Volunteer of the Year (16-24 years)
  • First Aid Volunteer of the Year (25 years and over)

CATEGORY 3: The Herald Community First Aid Award This category has been created to recognise courageous individuals, valiant First Aid advocates and those who have excelled in using their First Aid skills in the Community.  We are seeking nominations from anyone, anywhere in recognition of a particularly inspirational First Aid achievement.

  • Young First Aid Champion (up to and including 15 years of age)
  • Community First Aid Champion (16 years and over)

For further information please contact Helen Forrest or Stephanie Stewart on 0141 332 4031

Helen.forrest@firstaid.org.uk or Stephanie.stewart@firstaid.org.uk

St Andrew’s First Aid

Summerside boolers lift Auld Yins Cup

Edinburgh’s senior bowlers headed to the north of the city on Thursday when Dudley Bowling Club hosted the Auld Yins Cup. Sponsored by Lindsay’s Solicitors, eight city bowling clubs battled it out in a round-robin event that was only slightly affected by gusty wind and light showers – they’re made of stern stuff these seniors!

At the end of an action-packed day it was Dudley’s near neighbours Summerside who triumphed and made the short journey home with the spoils.

SOS supporters hit Stockbridge streets seeking Sunday signatures!

Stockbridge was a busy place today: as well as Stockbridge Market’s first birthday celebrations (see previous post) SOS (Save our Stockbridge) members were out on the streets to lobby support for their campaign against Edinburgh Accies’ redevelopment proposals.

Armed with petitions, the SoS campaigners were joined by a BBC film unit yesterday – the BBC plans to screen a documentary about the campaign next Spring.

STV Appeal raises almost £2 million to tackle child poverty in Scotland

The STV Appeal 2012 has raised an incredible £1,913,080 for children living in poverty in Scotland – and the donations are still flooding in.  That’s £956,540 from fundraising and donations, which was then doubled by the Scottish government, with Alex Salmond confirming the match funding live on STV last night.

The STV Appeal 2012: The Big Live Show, hosted by Lorraine Kelly, showcased the fantastic efforts from fundraisers across the country, including some of the nation’s most famous folk.  From Sean Batty and Jock the Dog’s cycle ride and agility competition, to Fred McAulay walking the West Highland Way, there have been some brilliant challenges in the name of the Appeal this year.

People across the country have taken part in tea parties, bake sales, sponsored walks and a host of weird and wonderful events. Everyone should be extremely proud as the total raised will help change the lives of many children, desperately in need of care.

Paul Brannigan, star of The Angels’ Share, joined Lorraine on the sofa to explain how his life was transformed thanks to youth charity Sidekicks and the time and effort put in by dedicated staff.

From moving video films of young people living in challenging circumstances, to fantastic performance from Amy MacDonald and Michelle McManus and Manran, it truly was a special night and the generosity of viewers will go on to change the lives of many children in Scotland, for the better.

New campaign to help prevent suicides

If you can read between the lines, you can save lives.

That’s the simple message from a new campaign in Edinburgh to mark the start of Suicide Prevention Week (10-16 September). Last year 60 people in the capital took their own lives, leaving a lasting impact on families, friends and communities.

Choose Life – the national strategy and action plan to prevent suicide in Scotland – is tackling the issue of suicide through the ‘Read between the lines’ campaign. The message is that if you’re worried about someone, such as a friend, family member or work colleague, asking them about their feelings may help to save their life.

The campaign acknowledges that signs of suicide can be ambiguous, but encourages people to take all signs of distress seriously, even if the person seems to be living a normal life. Asking a person about what’s troubling them can make a positive difference.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Health and Social Care Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This campaign is about asking people to be alert to any potential warning signs of suicide. You tend to know when someone close to you isn’t quite themselves. So if you notice any changes in their behaviour that worry you – even if the signs come and go – ask them about it.

“Talking can help a person gain clarity about what it is that’s troubling them, and often gives a sense of perspective. Starting a conversation is half the battle. You don’t need to have an answer to their problems – just be there for them, try to listen carefully without judging, and show that you care.

“People often worry about asking someone if they are thinking about suicide but Choose Life advises that raising the subject won’t do this. Instead, it can be a big relief for them to be able to say, ‘yes, I am’ and acknowledge they need help.”

The campaign is aimed at those who are likely to be in greatest contact with people most at risk of suicide – men aged 30-59. Statistics show that around three quarters of suicides have been men in every year since 1990.

Thought-provoking posters will be displayed in a range of community venues as well as in public toilets, and on buses and trains. Choose Life is also making widely available information cards with simple ‘how to help’ steps, and leaflets giving advice on starting conversations about suicide and listening effectively.

Since the launch of Choose Life in 2002, Scotland’s suicide rate has decreased by 17%. Choose Life in Edinburgh has made a key contribution by providing financial support to the Samaritans, funding a service to support people who self-harm and funding research about the particular risks of suicide faced by people with substance misuse issues.

Monday 10 September is also World Suicide Prevention Day.

For help and advice people can call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 or Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.

 

World Premiere coming soon to North Edinburgh Arts

In their first Scottish Tour since, ‘Tonight Sandy Grierson will Lecture, Dance and Box’ Greyscale are delighted to present Sylvia Dow’s ‘A Beginning, A Middle and An End’ to North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 September.

Commissioned with the support of Creative Scotland, Glasgow University and Fenton Arts Trust and produced in association with Stellar Quines, this is the world premiere of Sylvia Dow’s first play.

A beginning, a middle and an end, that’s how things go, provided you start in the right place.

For Evelyn and Ade time passes; sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes all at once, but always away from what was and relentlessly towards what will be. 

Their little family of two, of four, of three, of one, not necessarily in that order, travels together towards a new beginning, or an old ending. Or both. Only time will tell.”

For further information and ticket availability go to North Edinburgh Arts website at: www.northedinburgharts.co.uk/events.php